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Howl, Scream, Stomp – Messer Chups, Bloodshot Bill and The Jagaloons – A night of Surf and Rockabilly at No Fun – 11/3/25

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November 6, 2025

Howl, Scream, Stomp – Messer Chups, Bloodshot Bill and The Jagaloons – A night of Surf and Rockabilly at No Fun – 11/3/25

By Dean Giagni

A cool fall night in November quickly got hot and sweaty with a triple bill of energetic surf rock, down and dirty rockabilly and space guitar, Tuesday night at No Fun.

Twangy reverb and glittering surf riffs with an alt attitude are a hallmark of local favorites, the Albany based The Jagaloons. Their influences spread out in all directions from Dick Dale to Link Wray but incorporate a punk sensibility and unique East coast flavor. With the solid, driving rhythms of bassist Josh Welf and drummer Geoff Kelley to make you move, Kurt Stegemann’s nimble guitar glides over every song. Driving and percussive without losing the laid back, late night surf rock sensibility, The Jagaloons are perfect example of the cultural, geographic and nostalgic reach of Surf Rock some 70 years on.

Next up, a one-man band powerhouse from Montreal, Bloodshot Bill. Radiating headliner energy from a cheap folding chair in the center of the stage, playing a snare and bass drum with his feet, hunched over his beat-up Galaxy guitar, he howled, growled, grunted and whistled the crowd into a frenzy of dancing, clapping and screaming. Dressed in the Rockabilly uniform of denim overalls, a striped t-shirt and straw cowboy hat he blasted his way through a too short set of selections from his over 22 record releases since 2001. He immediately won the crowd over with his high-energy, all-in performance style, using the neck of his guitar as additional percussion and initiating call and response from the audience, daring them to follow back with his snaring, howling and barking.

Hailing from St. Petersburg, Russia, Messer Chups (which translates roughly as Knife Lollipop or Knife Suck) dive into the Surf genre with a distinctly Eastern European, Slavic seasoning. Slick and professional, cool and calculated; Messer Chups mesmerized the crowd with the tight, effortless technical guitar work of Oleg Gitarkin (really?) in his immaculate black suit, while the rhythm section of Zombierella (stage names, anyone?) on bass and Mattia Bertolassi banging away on drums keep the whole thing together. Light on vocals but heavy on the sparkling spacey swirl of guitar, they wowed and surprised the crowd with a cover of Kraftwerk’s The Model, and later in the set a creepy Halooween influenced instrumental punctuated with Oleg’s creepy Vincent Price (their favorite horror icon) style evil laugh.

Whassup in the 518? – Weekend Shows

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November 6, 2025

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Whassup in the 518?

Friday, November 7th

Wicked, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

WICKED, Schenectady’s most “popular” musical, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

The Seven Wonders: A Live Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga

The Seven Wonders are world-class musicians paying homage to the music of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. Named after the Fleetwood Mac song “Seven Wonders”, the band’s collective performing experience brings the crowd powerful renditions of these timeless tunes. They authentically recreate all the great hits of Fleetwood Mac, including Dreams, Go Your Own Way, Rhiannon, Edge of Seventeen, Landslide, Gypsy, and more. The Seven Wonders’ onstage passion reconnects fans with the music they love.

Concert Crave Presents: I Love R&B, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

The Joni Project – Celebrating the Music of Joni Mitchell, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-9:30pm

The Joni Project formed as a tribute in sound and spirit to Joni Mitchell, one of music’s greatest and most innovative artists. The band is fronted by Long Island’s remarkable multi-instrumentalist and singer Katie Pearlman, who impressively plays Joni’s songs in their original open guitar tunings; and includes jazz and jam band mainstays Dave Berg (guitar), Dan Ehrlich (bass), Alan Lerner (drums), Mark Mancini (keyboards), Steve Finkelstein (percussion), Premik Russell Tubbs (saxophone and flute), and Victoria Faiella (backing vocals).

Four Sticks – Music of Led Zeppelin, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Experience the raw live sound of Led Zeppelin’s early hits with Four Sticks.

First Friday at The Eleven with Jenna Nicholls (FREE SHOW), The Eleven, Albany, 6pm-8pm

Join us for Cap Region Feud! Capital Region Creatives form teams to see if they have their finger on the pulse of the Capital Region for the chance to win $200 for the charity of their choice. Hosts Aidan Hennessey and Taryn Nasuta briefly interview contestants and their chosen charities highlighting their interesting work.

Cap Region Feud, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11pm

Joe Mansman & The Midnight Revival Band w/ Ginger Geezus, Gozer, Putnam Place, Saratoga, 8:30pm-11pm

Join Joe Mansman & The Midnight Revival Band in celebrating the release of their debut full-length album, Gas Station Elvis. They will be joined by special guests, Ginger Geezus and Gozer.

Bright Series: The Cody Sisters, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 8pm-10pm

The Cody Sisters are at the heart of today’s acoustic folk and bluegrass scene, bringing a sound that is as fresh and original as it is deeply rooted in tradition. Led by sisters Megan (guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Maddie (guitar, banjo, vocals), joined by bassist Will Pavilonis, the trio blends propulsive instrumental solos with warm, seamless harmonies that captivate audiences wherever they play. They truly have forged a new sound that has no equivalent match in the acoustic world today.

Karaoke, Lost and Found, Albany, 9:30pm

Nuovo Testamento / Syd Silvair, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

11/7 5:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Wheatfields Clifton Park

11/7 5:30 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well

11/7 6:00 PM Chris Carey & Tim Wechgelaer- Cock & Bull

11/7 6:00 PM Christine Spero- Panza’s

11/7 6:00 PM Dan Dekalb- 677 Prime

11/7 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Tinney’s Tavern

11/7 6:00 PM David Wong- Saratoga Winery

11/7 6:00 PM Jeff Stein- The Scarlet Knife

11/7 6:00 PM Mark R.- Powers Pub

11/7 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- Spa City Tap & Barrel

11/7 6:00 PM Matty Finn- Carsons Woodside Tavern

11/7 6:00 PM Pat Decker- Prime at Saratoga National

11/7 6:00 PM Ragged Co.- Inn at Saratoga

11/7 6:00 PM Ragged Company- Inn at Saratoga

11/7 6:00 PM Shine On- Bound By Fate Brewing

11/7 6:00 PM Standard Edition- Landing Hotel at Rivers Casino

11/7 6:00 PM Steve Oill- Wolf Hollow Brewing

11/7 6:30 PM Bennett Brothers- Artisanal Brew Works

11/7 6:30 PM Kyle Hommel- Other One Brewery

11/7 6:30 PMChris Dollard- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

11/7 6:30pm Joe Adee & The Lug Nuts – Peddlers Bar & Bistro

11/7 7:00 PM Acoustic Graffiti- Kraverie

11/7 7:00 PM Bad Monk- The Night Owl

11/7 7:00 PM Dan Bernstein- Emack & Bolios

11/7 7:00 PM Dirt Cheap Trio- The Bunker Saratoga

11/7 7:00 PM Donna Tritico Band- Holy Moses Tavern

11/7 7:00 PM Joe’s Boys- Bunker Clifton Park

11/7 7:00 PM Powersiren- Cherry Plain Square #17

11/7 7:00 PM The Bypass- O’Slattery’s

11/7 7:30 PM Electric Rodeo- Wicked Eatery

11/7 8:00 PM DJ Postman- Misfit

11/7 8:00 PM Four Sticks- Rustic Barn Pub

11/7 8:00 PM Midnight Revival Band / Ginger Geezus / Gozer- Putnam Place

11/7 8:00 PM Oobleck & Black Mountain Symphony- Ophelia’s Restaurant

11/7 8:00 PM The Cody Sisters- Caffe Lena

11/7 8:00 PM Thomas Powers & Andy Mollica- Cooperstown Diistilling Saratoga

11/7 8:30 PM Refrigerators- Vapor

11/7 9:00 PM Coverups- Centre St Pub

11/7 9:00 PM Grit n Whiskey- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

11/7 9:00 PM Karaoke- Towne Tavern

11/7 9:00 PM Pete Sweeney Group- Nine Maple

11/7 9:30 PM Hit n Run- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, November 8th

Wicked, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

WICKED, Schenectady’s most “popular” musical, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

Matt Fraser: America’s Top Psychic Medium, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga

Matt Fraser is America’s Top Psychic Medium and the star of the hit television series on E! Entertainment.

With his sold-out live events, captivating television appearances, and powerful spiritual teachings, Matt has brought healing, hope, and laughter to a global audience. His extraordinary ability to connect with the other side has made him a trusted figure for people seeking closure, guidance, and connection with their loved ones.

Crown of Thornz, Empire Underground, Albany, 5pm

Desperados – A Tribute To The Eagles, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-9:30pm

The Sound Minds perform with special guest Freak’s Garage!!

EARTH / Stebmo, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.“

11/8 1:00 PM Ugly Muggs- Lakeview on Crystlal Lake

11/8 10:00 AM LB Walker- Saratga Farmers Market at Wilton Mall

11/8 5:00 PM Little Saints- Artisanal Brew Works

11/8 5:30 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well

11/8 6:00 PM Ben Zoleski- Spa City Tap & Barrel

11/8 6:00 PM Chris Carey- The Scarlet Knife

11/8 6:00 PM DysFunctone- Ophelia’s Restaurant

11/8 6:00 PM Franklin Micare- 677 Prime

11/8 6:00 PM Jeff Walton- Henry’s Tavern

11/8 6:00 PM Jeffrey Halstead- Panza’s

11/8 6:00 PM Lifeline- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course

11/8 6:00 PM Matt Evans – Powers Pub

11/8 6:00 PM Sherian Nolan & Peter Von- AllenInn at Saratoga

11/8 6:00 PM SMOOTH- Van Dyck Music Club

11/8 6:00 PM Tim Wechgelaer- Bulls Head Inn

11/8 6:30 PM Brad Westcott- Other One Brewery

11/8 6:30 PM Steve Candlen- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

11/8 6:30pm Derrick Forget – Peddlers Bar & Bistro

11/8 7:00 PM Ain’t No Strangers- Quarters

11/8 7:00 PM Betsey & The Byegones- Kraverie

11/8 7:00 PM Donna Tritico Band- Hedge Bistro

11/8 7:00 PM Dysfunction Junction- Holy Moses Tavern

11/8 7:00 PM Even It Up- Cherry Plain Square #17

11/8 7:00 PM Frank Murray- Bunker Clifton Park

11/8 7:00 PM Ill Funk Ensemble- The Night Owl

11/8 7:00 PM Off The Record- Normanside Country Club

11/8 7:00 PM Radio Junkies- The Bunker Saratoga

11/8 7:00 PM Six Mile Sundown- O’Slattery’s

11/8 7:00 PM The Under Dawgs- Rustic Barn Pub

11/8 7:30 PM Michael Benedict Jazz Vibes- Van Dyck Music Club

11/8 7:30 PM The Warped Tour Band, Dookie and Fake Out Boy- Putnam Place

11/8 8:00 PM Brian Kane- Seven Bistro

11/8 8:00 PM Dan Navarro with opener Jesse Lynn Madera- Caffe Lena

11/8 8:00 PM DJ Chizzzik- Misfit

11/8 8:00 PM Grit nWhiskey & DJ Kevin Richards- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

11/8 8:00 PM Will Capuano- Bourbon Room

11/8 8:30 PM Skeeter Creek- Vapor

11/8 9:00 PM Michael Benedict Jazz Vibes- Nine Maple

11/8 9:30 PM Open Bar Band- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Sunday, November 9th

Wicked, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

WICKED, Schenectady’s most “popular” musical, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

Dysentery, Empire Underground, Albany, 5pm

Kitchen Dwellers w/s/g The Mallett Brothers Band, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7pm-9pm

Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 5:30pm-9pm

Bluegrass Jams are for making new friends, sharing songs, playing and listening to blue grass and new-grass. All skin levels are welcome.

Flamy Grant, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 7pm-9pm

“Catchy, rabble-rousing folk of the Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie variety.”

–Nick Spacek, The Pitch Kansas City

Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen whose music is turning heads and opening hearts around the world. With a powerhouse voice and fearless songwriting, Flamy blends the evocative art of drag with country, gospel, folk, and roots traditions—inviting audiences into a space that is equal parts dazzling cabaret and soul-stirring concert.

R&B Brunch and Mimosas, Lost and Found, Albany

Freak Phone / PRIZE / Pleasure Dome, No Fun, Troy, 5pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

11/9 1:00 PM Rob Forman- Other One Brewery

11/9 11:00 AM Taylor Swift Themed Brunch- Hideaway

11/9 2:00 PM Matty Finn- Galway Rock Winery

11/9 3:00 PM Marie Sioux- Ophelia’s Restaurant

11/9 3:00 PM Tim Wechgelaer & Chris Carey- Franklin Square Market

11/9 5:00 PM Bobbie Van Detta- Charlton Tavern

11/9 5:30 PM Bluegrass Jam- Rustic Barn Pub

11/9 6:00 PM Sinatra And Friends- Panza’s

11/9 7:00 PM Flamy Grant- Caffe Lena

11/94:00 PM Triple Trouble wsg Delaney Hafener Artisanal Brew Works

Suzanne Reisman – Rat Tours NYC – An Xperience Interview

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November 6, 2025

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Suzanne Reisman – Rat Tours NYC – An Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: You hold garbage and rat tours in New York City. What got you started in this endeavor?

SR: I’d been working in nonprofit social services administration for a long time – over two decades – and, given the horrendous political environment, I decided to do something that brought more joy to my life. I love walking tours, and I’ve had my NYC tour guide license since 2009 or 2010. It seemed like a good time to put it to use talking about things I care about, but in an entertaining way.

RRX: Have you ever been attacked by a rat?

SR: LMAO! NO! Rats are far more scared of us than we are of them. Although I was looking in a trash can last night during a tour, when one jumped out. It scared the s*&t out of me! I screamed so loud, I also seemed to scare the shit out of it and its friends, because that rat and a few others bolted away.

RRX: Have the police or the city ever tried to dissuade you from showing people this side of New York?

SR: Actually, the City has been really supportive. There are a few initiatives underway to teach the community about rats and rat mitigation. I used their free trainings to develop material for my tour. I also encourage NYC residents to sign up for the trainings to learn more! It’s important that we understand why we have a rat problem, and it’s not the rats – it’s us. If people would change their behavior around trash – and this is true from Dutch times on – then we’d have many fewer rats.

RRX: What area would non-New Yorkers be surprised has a lot of rats? What area would native New Yorkers be surprised has a lot of rats?

SR: It seems both New Yorkers and visitors are surprised by how much rats really love living in parks. They don’t want to be in our buildings – they love burrowing into green areas!

RRX: What is the craziest thing you’ve come across in tours, rat-related or non-rat-related?

SR: Twice, the same very inebriated older woman has stopped the tour while we are in DeLury Square to tell us how she went into Ryders Alley at night in the 1990s to talk to some guys who had baseball bats and bags to find out what they were doing. They were beating rats to feed to their pet snakes.

RRX: Has anyone wanted to feed the rats on the tour, or do something weird like that?

SR: People joke about petting the rats, but no one has. Also, no one – thank god – has tried to feed them. I’m very serious that people understand that having so many rats and garbage around is bad. Once, a rat jumped out of a trash can and landed on one of my guests’ feet. He was pretty excited by that, which … OK. I admit that I screamed. LMAO.

Gaelic Storm Coming to Troy Savings Bank Music Hall March 21st

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November 5, 2025

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GAELIC STORM

Saturday, March 21st, 2026, 7:30 PM

Tickets: (518) 273-0038 For venue information: www.troymusichall.org

TROY, NEW YORK: The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall announces Gaelic Storm will return on Saturday, March 21st! Pre-sale for the show starts Wednesday, November 5th at 10am and tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday November 7th at 10am. Learn more below about this show!

It’s hard to imagine a band just coming into their own after 20 years of success, but that’s exactly what makes a true anomaly. Gaelic Storm, a multi-national, Celtic juggernaut grows stronger with each live performance, and after two decades and over 2000 shows, they are a true force to be reckoned with.

The band attributes their continued success to their fanatic audience, and it’s a well-diversified crowd for sure – attracting fans of every genre with their rich storytelling, energetic instrumentals, devotion to Celtic traditions and passion for their stagecraft. They are as loyal to their fans as the fans are to them, as front-man Patrick Murphy states, “The fans are the ones that have given us this life. We’re here for them.”

Gaelic Storm takes a true blue-collar, hard-nose approach to touring, consistently traveling the US and internationally forging a unique path in the Celtic music world. “You have to see us live. We are the true working-man’s’ band,” says longtime member Ryan Lacey. “We still, and most likely always will, tour most of the year, and that’s how we constantly hone our craft.”

This dedication to their live show dates all the way back to the mid-1990s, when Gaelic Storm kicked off its’ career as a pub band in Santa Monica, California. One which performance led to their discovery that ultimately found the band appearing in the blockbuster film, Titanic (where they performed “Irish Party in Third Class”). This laid the groundwork for a career that would eventually find them topping the Billboard World Chart six times, making appearances at mainstream music festivals, and regularly headlining the largest Irish Festivals across the country, all while gaining a reputation as a genre-bending Irish rock band whose songs mix Celtic traditions with something uniquely creative.

Recent years have seen the addition of Natalya Kay on fiddle and Parker Hastings on guitar, who both bring their own energy, musicianship and spirit to Gaelic Storm.

Tickets are on sale at 10am, November 5th to Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Members. Anyone can become a member and gain access to the pre-sale. Single tickets go on sale the general public Friday November 7th at 10am via phone, (518) 273-0038, in person, or online at TroyMusicHall.org. More information on the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and upcoming programs is also available on the website at www.troymusichall.org.

Healing Harmonies: An Afternoon of Music

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Joshua Scarselli

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November 5, 2025

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By Joshua Scarselli.

The Community Hospice and St. Peter’s Palliative Care Partners held Healing Harmonies: An Afternoon of Music at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. This concert was a benefit held to support the important work they do, helping seriously ill people and their families. Not only does this concert help raise money, but it also spreads information to the community. A lot of people think you can only benefit from hospice or palliative care in your final days. In fact, you can access these services with a prognosis of six months or less. If someone is blessed to live beyond those six months, they aren’t kicked out of the program. They support some people for years.

We were treated to a wide range of music. From classical to the eclectic, there was truly something for everyone. All of these talented individuals are present or former colleagues from St. Peter’s Health Partners. The acoustics of the center were absolutely amazing. This only served to enhance the performance. Every last piece was filled with emotional energy that represents the work these medical professionals bring to the community.

The work Hospice and Palliative Care do is unique. They help people die with dignity. I worked for Hospice for five years. It is still one of the highlights of my medical career. Many patients will tell you that Hospice and Palliative Care allowed them to truly live once they found out they were going to die.

If you want to make a donation or see how you can help, visit givetocommunityhospice.org.

Photo Gallery by Joshua Scarselli

Week Forty-Five: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “Rock n Roll Gangster”

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November 5, 2025

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Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week airs EVERY WEDNESDAY at 6pm Eastern ONLY on RadioRadioX.com

This is Jesse Sample. If you could do whatever you want, independent of financial concerns or personal commitments, what would that picture look like? What personal choices would you make within this new blank canvas? Everyone’s different and we all change and grow in our tastes so that picture will also develop and get more nuanced.

Personally, I prefer the tracksuit. And if it’s cold, perhaps a nice peacoat that goes down to the knees over the top. I’d like to just jump on a plane whenever I feel like it and when I land, wherever it is that I want, I’d like cruise around town and just see what jumps out. I’d frequent low lit bars and stay at the nicest hotels.

I’d naturally be so free and relaxed that I could just sit in with any random jazz band and boogie through any standard. I would get up late and take my time getting started. I’d naturally want to eat interesting food and reflect on my life while relaxing in the city’s finest day spa.

Thanks to all of you tuned into RadioRadioX. This is the Freak of the Week, “Rock n Roll Gangster.”

Bruiser and Bicycle / Emerald Ground Water / Stella Emmett @ Hangar on the Hudson, 10/26/2025

Photos

Timothy Reidy

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November 5, 2025

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Bruiser and Bicycle / Emerald Ground Water / Stella Emmett @ Hangar on the Hudson, 10/26/2025

Bruiser and Bicycle had one of the best shows of the year at their “Deep Country” release party at the Hangar, while Emerald Ground Water returned to Troy and were hard to follow, and Stella Emmett came out of hibernation.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

Roman Find in New Orleans – The Weird Side of the Internet

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November 5, 2025

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Roman Find in New Orleans – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

I spent a lot of time as a kid looking for buried treasure. I was a weird kid, what can I say? And I say ‘weird’ because I would dig in places that no one would ever believe held treasure, like the side of a highway. I was also a brave and impulsive kid. So I’d dig against hard-packed dirt with whatever instrument I could find, usually a stick. I wasn’t looking for gold or silver, just for something historical.

Tulane University anthropologist Daniella Santoro went digging in her back yard to clear a garden overgrown since she’d bought the house in 2018. And she found what I would’ve killed to have found: a one-foot square tablet with Latin engraved into it. A grave marker for a lifelong sailor in the Roman Navy named Sextus Congenius Verus.

Now I know that some of you are going to have the little tickle in your nose that you get when you come across a juicy conspiracy. I mean, dig up a two-thousand year old Roman grave marker in a New Orleans backyard and you might think that he was buried there, and our “first Europeans to settle” thing goes right out the window.

But alas, such a mystery is not meant to be. A man was stationed in World War Two and stole the marker from a bombed out museum in Italy. So the tablet’s been in NOLA for about seventy years.
Did you really think there’s anything in a three-hundred plus year old city that hasn’t been bulldozed over at some point? Surely someone would have found it by now. And way to go, kicking the tires of that property purchase. There just as easily been a body dump in that garden. And this is New Orleans. There might have been a body dump at some point.

Music Notes: The Art, Science, and Technique of Music – November Edition

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November 5, 2025

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Music Notes: The Art, Science, and Technique of Music – November Edition

Peak Music Studios – November Edition – by Peak Music Studios.

“Why does my mix sound like a wet blanket even when everything’s plugged in right?” It’s a question every musician, sound tech, and weekend rocker has asked at some point. You’ve got the gear, the grit, and the groove, but somehow, it still sounds like everyone’s playing from inside a cardboard box.

Welcome to the mysterious world of EQ, where four little knobs hold the power to make your band sound like a show or a train wreck. Most midrange mixers give you four EQ controls per channel: Low, Low-Mid, High-Mid, and High. They look innocent enough, but twist them wrong and you’ll unleash the sonic equivalent of a chili cook-off gone wrong.

Let’s decode them.

The Low Knob: The Mud Monster

This one usually lives around 80–120 Hz—the land of bass guitars, kick drums, and other things that rattle windows. Too much low-end, and everything turns to soup. Too little, and your mix feels weak.

Vocals: Roll it off a bit. Nobody came to hear your lungs.
Guitar: Cut it. Guitars don’t belong in the sub-basement.
Bass: Boost slightly for warmth and weight.
Backing track with drums: Keep it flat or add a touch if the kick’s shy.

If your sound system is fighting the room (hello, boomy bar stages), cut lows everywhere except the bass. Instantly, clarity returns, and you’ll look like you actually meant to do that.

The Low-Mid Knob: The Muddle Zone

Ah, 250–500 Hz, the no-person’s-land where everything fights for attention. This is the “why does it sound like there’s a blanket over the speakers?” frequency range.

Vocals: Cut gently to clear up boxiness.
Guitar: Flat or a small trim if it feels cloudy.
Bass: A tiny boost here gives punch, but too much makes mud.
Backing track: Small cut; let the live instruments breathe.

Most new engineers boost here because it sounds “full.” But fullness is often just … muddiness wearing nice shoes.

The High-Mid Knob: The Truth Teller

Now we’re in the 2–4 kHz range, the land of clarity and presence, the part of the mix that says, “Hey, listen to me!” It’s also where mistakes shout the loudest.

Vocals: Boost a little to bring words forward.
Guitar: Small boost for bite and pick definition.
Bass: Add a touch if you want it to “speak.”
Backing track: Gentle lift for snare snap and energy.

Go easy. Too much, and you’ll have that vintage “AM radio at full blast” vibe. Your audience will start looking for earplugs instead of encore buttons.

The High Knob: The Fairy Dust

This one sparkles around 8–12 kHz, the realm of air, shimmer, and the magic that makes things sound expensive. Use it wisely.

Vocals: Light lift for openness.
Guitar: Slight boost if it’s dull; leave it flat if it’s already bright.
Bass: Leave it alone. Bass doesn’t need glitter.
Backing track: Boost for cymbals, reverb tails, and that studio-polished feel.

Remember: “more treble” is rarely the fix for a dull mix. It’s usually “less mud.” The Fairy Dust can’t fix a swamp.

Panning and Perspective

Keep your vocals and bass center because that’s the spine of your sound. Guitars can go left and right; that’s your width. Drums and backing tracks? Spread them naturally across the stereo field, leaving your voice front and center. Think of your mix like a photograph: vocals in focus, instruments framing the picture, and effects adding depth.

If everything’s up the middle, your mix will sound like a traffic jam. Spread it out, and suddenly your audience can hear every part.

The Science and the Soul

EQ is part art, part science. A small twist of a knob changes how frequencies interact. Cutting 3 dB at 300 Hz can be the difference between clarity and chaos. Our brains love separation; neuroscientist Daniel Levitin reminds us that music isn’t just sound, it’s organized sound. EQ is how we organize that sonic space.

And like any art, it takes practice. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll over-boost something and wonder why it sounds like angry bees. Then one day, you’ll twist the right knob at the right time, and the mix will bloom. That’s the moment you know you’re not guessing anymore, you’re sculpting.

The Bottom Line

Four knobs. Infinite possibilities. The Low keeps your feet on the ground, the Low-Mid clears the fog, the High-Mid brings the truth, and the High adds the magic.

So next time your mix sounds off, don’t panic. Just remember: every cut you make gives another instrument space to shine. EQ isn’t about volume. It’s about balance. And if you mess it up? Twist it back and call it “creative exploration.” We’ve all done it. See you in the studio.

This Month in Music History

November 1, 1969: Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

November 5, 1956: Nat King Cole became the first African-American performer to host a national TV variety show.

November 8, 1971: Led Zeppelin released Led Zeppelin IV, featuring “Stairway to Heaven.”

November 18, 1993: Nirvana recorded their iconic “MTV Unplugged in New York” performance.

November 22, 1963: The Beatles released “With the Beatles” in the U.K., which was the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

November 24, 1991: Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, died of complications from AIDS, just one day after publicly revealing his diagnosis.

November 25, 1976: The Band held their farewell concert, The Last Waltz, featuring Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Eric Clapton.

November 28, 1992: Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” began its 14-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

November 29, 2001: George Harrison died at age 58.

November 30, 1982: Michael Jackson released “Thriller,” which became the best-selling album of all time.

Weird But True

“Jingle Bells” wasn’t originally a Christmas song. It was written for Thanksgiving.
The song was composed by James Lord Pierpont in 1857. It was titled “One Horse Open Sleigh” for a Sunday school performance on Thanksgiving. Over time, it became a Christmas song thanks to its snowy imagery and catchy hook.

Collar City Mushrooms

Photos

Sara Busone

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November 4, 2025

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I visited Collar City Mushrooms on Sunday to film for my show, “Sara B Presents – Live From The 518,” and took some behind-the-scenes pics. I was treated to an amazing tour of the grounds at Indian Ladder Farms by Avery and Amy, including their grow rooms and dining areas!

Photography by Sara Busone.